Image by Melissa Clayton
I am saddened by Holofernes’ answer to Alchior’s speech because although he has heard the truth, it does not speak to him.
Sometimes, people hear the truth when it is spoken to them, but they choose not to listen to or act upon it. Conversely, people hear the truth and choose to listen and act upon it. Other times, people cannot even hear the truth even when it is spoken to them, like Holofernes.
Undoubtedly, Holofernes’ and his officers’ sinfulness has desensitized them to the truth. That which is true, good, and beautiful are God’s ways of communicating to us that He loves us and will save us. When we reject the true, good, and the beautiful, and settle for less, we lose sight of God’s revelation. This happens all the time, by people identifying themselves as atheists, agnostics, non-Christians, and even non-practicing Catholics—people who do not have the ears to hear God’s truth.
So for today, my gorgeous faithful sister, instead of spending time reflecting on how God’s Word in this particular chapter of our Judith Bible study might directly apply to and transform your life, I ask you to take today to step outside of yourself and pray for those people. Perhaps you might know someone like that in your life, someone who has heard the truth and actively chooses not to listen to it, or someone who cannot hear the truth at all. If not, offer up prayers for all of those souls, living and dead, who, like Holofernes, lack faith and/or who have been desensitized to the truth. They need your prayers.
It is my hope that by sincerely lifting up prayers for people who do not hear the truth, going beyond yourself to perform a small spiritual work of mercy for another with great love, you are also transformed.
Peace be with you, my gorgeous faithful sister.
